Brussels, 25/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Solidarity and willingness to do more to help. That was the message sent on Friday 25 March by EU heads of state and government to the Japanese authorities and people. As EU emergency humanitarian aid is being sent to Japan to help those whose lives have been devastated by the earthquake and tsunami, the European Council confirmed that, in addition to the coordinated response to the initial request for assistance made by the Japanese authorities on 15 March, the EU stands ready to provide further aid if asked. “We are ready as a Union to assist when it is needed, and in any way we can. The Japanese prime minister told me he highly appreciated the support we offer”, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy told the press. “We express our solidarity with the Japanese people who are dealing with this crisis with great courage and dignity. The European Union is doing all it can to help”, added Commission President José Manuel Barroso, noting: “In the last days we have responded to Japan's call for specific in-kind assistance to bring relief to the Japanese people”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the stress tests for nuclear power stations were “important” but that we must “not forget the humanitarian measures to assist the victims” of this double disaster. UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who spoke to the Japanese prime minister on Thursday, expressed the hope that Japan would be able quickly to get back on its feet again - “the same message” as the European Council has sent to Japan, he said. (A.N./transl.rt)